Rob Schmitz

Marketplace’s China correspondent, based in Shanghai

Rob Schmitz appears in the following:

Standardized test scores for teens in Germany are down. Teachers aren't surprised

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Germany's public schools are struggling with a surge of students whose first language is something other than German. Test scores are falling.

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How Berlin's legendary techno scene has become recognized by UNESCO

Friday, March 15, 2024

NPR's Rob Schmitz talks with Der Spiegel journalist Tobias Rapp about Berlin's techno culture, the significance of which has been nationally recognized by Germany's UNESCO commission.

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Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten streak

Friday, March 15, 2024

NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with soccer podcaster and writer Musa Okwonga about the remarkable season Bayer Leverkusen is having in the German soccer league.

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Key takeaways from China's annual Two Sessions

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Following China's annual Two Sessions meetings, NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with Wilson Center's Robert Daly about China's state of affairs and its economy.

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The piece 'As Slow as Possible' has been in performance for 21 years — so far

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

In a German town of Halberstadt, an organ performance that began more than two decades ago is far from over. The piece is expected to be played for 639 years. (Story aired on ATC on Feb. 5 2024.)

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How Europe is responding to Trump's comments about NATO and Russia

Monday, February 12, 2024

European leaders were mostly quiet after Donald Trump said at a campaign stop he would not defend NATO countries he deemed insufficiently paid-up.

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A piece titled 'As Slow as Possible' has been in performance for 21 years — so far

Monday, February 05, 2024

A John Cage piece for organ titled ASLSP — as slow as possible — lives up to its name. It has been in performance for 21 years so far.

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On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a look at how Germany remembers the past

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Germany devotes enormous resources to educating school children about the Holocaust, antisemitism, and discrimination. Despite that, antisemitic and anti-immigrant rhetoric has increased.

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Israel rejects genocide charges at International Court of Justice

Friday, January 12, 2024

Israel had its day in the International Court of Justice, defending against genocide charges, calling the case a "deliberately curated, decontextualized and manipulative description of hostilities."

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South Africa charges Israel with genocide in Gaza. Israel defends itself at The Hague

Friday, January 12, 2024

Israel presents its rebuttal to the charge of genocide it faces in Gaza at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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South Africa outlines genocide case against Israel at International Court of Justice

Thursday, January 11, 2024

At The Hague, proceedings began on South Africa's accusation of genocide by Israel in Gaza. Health officials in Gaza say more than 23,000 people have died in the war.

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U.N.'s highest court is hearing accusations against Israel of genocide in Gaza

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Judges at the International Court of Justice opened two days of legal arguments in a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in its Gaza war. Israel rejects the allegation.

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This year is set to be a consequential one in U.S. politics

Monday, January 01, 2024

The presidential election will have different views on how to handle everything from the economy to immigration and abortion rights. Criminal trials are looming for one of the potential candidates.

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Morning news brief

Monday, January 01, 2024

This year is set to be a consequential one in U.S. politics. The U.S. economy performed better than many expected — what's ahead for 2024? Companies working on climate solutions are embracing AI.

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How companies are using artificial intelligence to tackle global warming

Monday, January 01, 2024

From detecting fires to looking for lithium, many companies that are working on climate solutions are embracing artificial intelligence as a tool.

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The U.S. economy performed better than expected in 2023. A 2024 preview

Monday, January 01, 2024

Will the economy continue to bubble like freshly-popped champagne, or will we suffer a hangover from inflation and high interest rates. Forecasters expect somewhat slower growth and lower inflation.

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The Israeli army attacked a U.N. aid convoy along a route it designated safe

Sunday, December 31, 2023

NPR's Rob Schmitz talks with Tom White, director of Gaza affairs for the UN Relief and Works Agency. He says his agency's aid workers have been hit several times while operating in Gaza.

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'Memory' explores our perception of the past and how it affects our present

Sunday, December 31, 2023

NPR's Rob Schmitz asks actor Peter Sarsgaard about making the new movie "Memory" and about the nature of memory itself.

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For some, the start of a new year calls for a 'First Day Hike'

Sunday, December 31, 2023

NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with Julie Martin of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation about the three-decade-old tradition of January 1 "First Day Hikes."

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One reason social media companies aren't doing more to protect children? Ad revenue

Sunday, December 31, 2023

NPR's Rob Schmitz asks Amanda Raffoul of Harvard's School of Public Health about a new estimate of the amount of money social media companies make on advertisements to users 17 and younger.

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